Michigan House Leader Reinstates Democrats

LANSING (WWJ/AP) – A spat that led the Republican leader of the Michigan House to remove eight Democrats from committees has been resolved.

Speaker Jase Bolger on Thursday reinstated four remaining Democrats who were booted from their assignments earlier in the week.

Bolger said he and Minority Leader Tim Greimel agreed to “put the past behind us.” Greimel said the duo will “strive to reach common ground where possible.”

Bolger removed Democrats from committees because they missed hearings last week. His move came after Greimel called for Republicans to be replaced for leaving a committee hearing on legislation that would end unlimited medical care for people seriously injured in car accidents.

“Rep. Greimel made a demand that members of one caucus be removed for attendance issues. So in that spirit, Speaker Bolger is holding Minority Leader Greimel’s caucus to his standards,” Bolger spokesman Ari Adler said at the time.

The Democrats reinstated Thursday are Douglas Geiss of Taylor, Jim Ananich of Flint, Rudy Hobbs of Southfield and Woodrow Stanley of Flint.